Patriots Journal: Ex-Giant Petrus thrilled to be on board

FOXBORO — Talk about landing on your feet. Mitch Petrus could not be any happier.

By PAUL KENYON

FOXBORO — Talk about landing on your feet. Mitch Petrus could not be any happier.

The Patriots’ new offensive lineman went through his first practice with the team Wednesday and came away with one conclusion.

“I’m fortunate to be going from one great team to another, that’s for sure,” he said. Petrus spent his first 2˝ seasons with the Giants after being a fifth-round draft pick out of Arkansas. He played in 23 games, with three starts, and earned a Super Bowl ring with New York. However, he was cut Nov. 3.

The Pats brought him in on Monday for a workout, signed him and had him working at practice Wednesday. Petrus could be needed right away. New England’s two starting guards, Logan Mankins (ankle) and Dan Connolly (back) were injured in the Buffalo game last Sunday. Neither was able to practice Wednesday, leading to the possibility they might not be able to play Sunday when the Colts visit.

Petrus said he is doing all he can to learn the New England system. He said the Giants and Patriots are similar in at least one way.

“The locker rooms are pretty much the same. The guys are really focused on what they have to do,” said Petrus, who has played both guard spots and center, and even played some fullback in college.

As far as dealing with off-field issues, he has a mentor. Jake Ballard, the Giants’ tight end last year, is now with the Patriots. Ballard is on the injured list and unable to play this season, but Petrus has a job for him.

“We were roommates in training camp our rookie year. We’ve stayed in touch,” said Petrus, who is 6-foot-3, 315 pounds. “He’s going to show me around the town, which places to go. I don’t have a clue how to get around yet.”

The Colts’ veteran wide receiver has seen his role shift under offensive coordinator and now interim head coach Bruce Arians. Arians came to the Colts from Pittsburgh, where he ran the offense for the Steelers, which led Bill Belichick to compare Wayne to one of the former Pittsburgh stars.

“They moved him around a little in the past, but not much, and now he’s Hines Ward,” Belichick said. “He’s in motion a lot, he’s blocking, he’s cracking, he’s lining up close to the formation, he’s in the slot. He’s doing a lot of things that Hines Ward did in Pittsburgh. It’s interesting to see [Wayne] in that role, but he’s always been good at whatever he’s done. You see him working the middle of the field on middle reads, on option routes, that kind of thing or working on the perimeter. He’s good at all of it.

“He was good then; he’s good now,” Belichick said. “There were some issues last year with their quarterbacking and passing game and all that, but I didn’t see any drop-off in Reggie Wayne as a football player. … He’s always looked pretty good to me.”

Andrew Luck spoke about how much Wayne has contributed off the field as a veteran presence on a young team.

“He’s been great. He doesn’t talk much; he’s not going to sit down and lecture the young guys, but the way he works, the way he prepares during the week, the way he takes care of his body, the way he mentally prepares, is a great example for us all in the locker room,” Luck said. “To boot, he’s a great football player, so it’s fun getting able to throw to him.”

Wayne was a free agent after last season and could have left the Colts.

“He’s a Colt and he wanted to be a Colt bad. He’s a legend here and he’s going to go into the Hall of Fame,” Arians said. “I’m really lucky because I’ve gotten a chance to have my second receiver [with Ward] catch 1,000 passes and maybe get to two induction ceremonies.”

Chuck Pagano

Telling it like it is

Arians apparently is not as secretive as many NFL coaches.

Arians told reporters both in Indianapolis and in New England on Wednesday that two of his starters, cornerback Vontae Davis and tight end Coby Fleener, will not play Sunday when the Colts meet the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Most coaches, including Belichick, opt to keep such information private as long as possible.

Former Patriot Darius Butler started at cornerback this past week and played so well he was named AFC defensive player of the week. Butler had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery in a 27-10 victory over Jacksonville.

Fleener, Luck’s teammate at Stanford, also has missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury. The second-round draft choice (34th overall) has 21 catches of the season. Fellow rookie Dwayne Allen has taken over in his absence.

Welker’s status unclear

Wes Welker has joined the list of Patriots players who have injury issues.

The wide receiver did not practice Wednesday, the first time he has not been at practice since training camp. Welker has a problem with his left ankle, one serious enough that he was sent for tests following Sunday’s victory over Buffalo, according to a report by Comcast Sports.